diff --git a/nixos/doc/manual/release-notes/rl-2009.xml b/nixos/doc/manual/release-notes/rl-2009.xml
index 58f8e3cb8f2..59a4d78c27e 100644
--- a/nixos/doc/manual/release-notes/rl-2009.xml
+++ b/nixos/doc/manual/release-notes/rl-2009.xml
@@ -905,6 +905,11 @@ services.transmission.settings.rpc-bind-address = "0.0.0.0";
      Fontconfig 2.10.x was removed from Nixpkgs - it hasn't been used in any nixpkgs package anymore.
     </para>
    </listitem>
+   <listitem>
+    <para>
+      The packages <package>perl</package>, <package>rsync</package> and <package>strace</package> were removed from <option>systemPackages</option>. If you need them, install them again with <code><xref linkend="opt-environment.systemPackages"/> = with pkgs; [ perl rsync strace ];</code> in your <filename>configuration.nix</filename>.
+    </para>
+   </listitem>
   </itemizedlist>
  </section>
 </section>
diff --git a/nixos/modules/config/system-path.nix b/nixos/modules/config/system-path.nix
index ae9710e3518..b3c5c6f93f3 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/config/system-path.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/config/system-path.nix
@@ -33,14 +33,11 @@ let
       pkgs.ncurses
       pkgs.netcat
       config.programs.ssh.package
-      pkgs.perl
       pkgs.procps
-      pkgs.rsync
-      pkgs.strace
       pkgs.su
       pkgs.time
       pkgs.utillinux
-      pkgs.which # 88K size
+      pkgs.which
       pkgs.zstd
     ];
 
diff --git a/nixos/modules/profiles/base.nix b/nixos/modules/profiles/base.nix
index 2a2fe119d30..3b67d628f9f 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/profiles/base.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/profiles/base.nix
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
     pkgs.fuse
     pkgs.fuse3
     pkgs.sshfs-fuse
+    pkgs.rsync
     pkgs.socat
     pkgs.screen